From customer feedback to surveys, to inventory forms online forms allow you to collect all the information you need to achieve your business growth. But what happens when your respondents have a bad internet connection or no connection at all?

Digital forms are way easier to navigate than offline data collection methods but not all work happens in a Wi-Fi zone—here’s why offline forms are a must-have:

What Are Offline Forms?

Offline forms help you collect data without an active internet connection. Regardless of whether or not your respondents have an internet connection, they can still fill out the form and when their network is back up, their responses automatically sync with the server.

Using offline forms also has the advantage of reaching people from all locations including remote areas without going through logistics stress for physical data collection. You also don’t have to face the frustration of your network slowing down and shutting down your data collection process.

Why Do Certain Industries Need Offline Forms?

If your organization or research experiences the following, you need an offline form:

• Inconsistent or Complete Lack of Internet Access in Work Environments– if your organization or research takes place in remote locations such as quantity surveys or wildlife conservation, you need offline forms because you will almost always experience a bad internet connection. Offline forms ensure you can still collect the needed data in these conditions with little to no internet connection.
• Efficiency and Productivity- If you are waiting for the internet to come back on field workers, inspectors, or surveyors face will face delays, halting their work until the connectivity is good again. You would only be wasting valuable time gathering data before making decisions that would help complete the project. Offline forms enables can capture data without slowing down, helping you maintain your productivity and complete your project on time.
• Compliance and Record-Keeping: If you are subject to compliance regulations, such as record-keeping requirements, offline forms help comply with data collection rules. Incomplete data even if it’s because of a terrible internet connection makes you non-compliant with consequences as bad as organization suspension or shutdown. Offline forms ensure you can capture data regardless of connectivity issues, so you don’t have to deal with non-compliance penalties.
• Security Concerns: Offline forms also help you to protect information in transit by securely storing the collected data on the device and encrypting it before it gets uploaded to the server. This enables you to limit the risk of unauthorized access that could happen when transporting physical forms.

Industries That Benefit the Most from Offline Forms

Offline forms offer significant advantages across various sectors, particularly those operating in environments with inconsistent or non-existent internet connectivity. Here are some key industries that stand to gain the most:

1. Field Services & Inspections

• Solution: Offline form that allows John to log maintenance details and record inspection findings with or without an internet connection. This way, no work is delayed because of connectivity issues.

2. Healthcare & Emergency Services

• Solution: Offline forms that ensure patient records are captured accurately and efficiently, without internet dependency. This allows for seamless data transfer and integration into patient management systems once connectivity is restored, ensuring continuity of care.

3. Construction & Engineering

• Solution: Offline forms that will help Ricardo log safety checklists, project updates, employee attendance, and material inventories. This keeps his records up-to-date to track project progress, delegate tasks, and give feedback to stakeholders.

4. Logistics & Transportation

• Solution: Offline form that allows Steve to track shipments and report damages in real-time. This allows him to deliver products fast, reduces errors, and boost customer satisfaction.

5. Census Data Collection

• Solution

Maria needs an offline-capable form builder with robust data validation and efficient data handling. This platform should prioritize speed and accuracy, offering features like bulk data upload upon connection, GPS integration for remote area tracking, and a user-friendly interface.

6. NonProfit and Crisis Relief

• Solution

Farouq needs an offline-capable mobile data collection platform with robust data validation and efficient data handling. This platform should prioritize speed and accuracy, offering features like bulk data upload upon connection, GPS integration for remote area tracking, and a user-friendly interface.

How to Implement Offline Forms in Your Industry

Here are some tips to help you design an offline form that fits your needs:

• Choose a Good SaaS Form Builder

The first step is to choose the right form builder. But what makes a form builder a good one? The following are features to look for:

Key Features

• Auto-Sync:  You need an offline form that ensures seamless data transfer after reconnecting. If you have to manually check for unuploaded responses and upload them from the device that will only contribute further to missing data because the chances of forgetting are pretty high.
• Encryption: The data collected has to be on the device before connectivity is back so you need a platform that will protect respondents’ sensitive data during offline storage and transmission.
• Mobile-Friendliness: You need a form that works across all devices including desktop, mobile, and tab.
• User-friendly: If you need to collect large amounts of information, instead of creating a lengthy form, you can create a multipage form that divides your questions into sections. You can also personalize the form using logic so people only answer questions that are relevant to them.

How to Create Offline Forms with Formplus

Here’s a step-by-step guide to set up your offline form with Formplus:

• Go to Formplus offline form and click Create a Form
• Sign up or log in if you already have an account with Formplus
• Edit the form’s questions to fit your data collection objectives.
• Customize the form’s look and feel by changing its theme, color, or font. You can also add a background image.
• Preview and test the form to ensure it is mobile-responsive.
• Go to Settings and click Submissions.

• Scroll down and toggle on Enable Offline mode.

• Share the form with respondents via email, QR code, or a direct link.
• Collect and analyze the response.

Wrapping Up

In a world where work isn’t always connected, offline forms keep businesses moving. You don’t have to sacrifice accuracy for reach; whether or not you have an active internet connection, you can still collect as much data as you need with offline forms.

What you need is an offline form with user-friendly features that allow you to collect the information you need regardless of location and network. Get started with our offline form to collect information on the go.